19/04/2008 by Nick Lanzarote Guidebook.

British tourism up 16.7% during January/February 2008

Overseas investors with interests in the Lanzarote property market will have been warmed by the release of the latest tourist figures for the island. Which reveal an upsurge 16.7% in British visitor numbers for the first two months of 2008. According to statistics just released by Spanish airport operator AENA.

The figures for January and February represent the first reversal of a downward trend in visitor numbers from the UK over recent years. Although this has been slight – and from a position of enormous popularity – as Lanzarote still attracted over 1 million visitors from Britain and Ireland during 2007 alone.

Many observers feared that the current credit crunch and resulting tightening of the consumer purse strings might have a negative impact upon both tourism and the property market on the island.

However, these fears have proved unfounded – and suggest that, conversely, Lanzarote might even benefit. As hard-pressed consumers eschew more expensive and exotic locations in favour of better value holiday options closer to home.

Certainly, owners of holiday rental apartments in Lanzarote aren’t complaining.

As, according to ASOLAN, the islands hoteliers association, occupancy levels rose 7% across all accommodation categories. With self-catering apartments in particular performing exceptionally well - recording occupancy of 84.19% during January and February. Which normally are amongst the quietest periods in the holiday rental calendar.

Island based holiday companies, such as White Beach Holidays and Lanzarote1 are also reporting a bumper start to the year. With forward bookings also showing double-digit growth to date on 2007 figures.

And it’s not just the British who are flocking to the island. As overall foreign visitor numbers are up by nearly 11%. With Lanzarote enjoying a particular resurgence of popularity in the Scandinavian market place – traditionally a source of decent visitor numbers back in the 1980´s, when tourism first really took off. During January and February visitor numbers from Norway and Sweden leapt by 31.1% and 61.7% respectively.

Where tourism leads, property investment tends to follow. And as previously reported by leading island property portal, Lanzarote Guidebook, demand for entry-level investments on Lanzarote – in the form of studios and apartments - remains buoyant.

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24/08/2007 by Nick Lanzarote Guidebook.

Lanzarote´s popularity as an overseas property investment hot spot shows little sign of abating. Despite the recent downturn in the UK property market and the upsurge in interest rates.

Lanzarote Investment property still attracts a great deal of interest from both UK and Irish based buyers. Thanks largely to the islands on-going popularity as a year round holiday destination. Attracting over one million British and Irish visitors alone in 2006.

Where tourism leads, property investment tends to follow. As these sorts of visitor numbers provide a ready-made market, twelve months of the year. Which cannot be said for other mainland Spanish holiday destinations or emerging markets such as Eastern Europe.

The returns for overseas investors are also more appealing. As Lanzarote Holiday Villas command excellent rental returns. So enabling most owners to more than cover their mortgage costs whilst also enjoying a pretty healthy additional income.

Capital growth is also running at around 9% currently on Lanzarote. Which means overseas investors will also enjoy a significant rise in the value of their property over time.

Unsurprisingly, the main resorts attract the most interest from overseas investors.

With Playa Blanca often offering excellent value for money for those seeking a basic villa with pool, whilst Puerto del Carmen is geared more towards studios and apartments.

Property prices across the island are still low in relation to other parts of Spain – so some leading industry observers such as Mark Stucklin of the Sunday Times still feel that Lanzarote offers plenty of room for price growth.

The market here is also fuelled by a growing expatriate community. With sun starved Northern Europeans now making up an estimated 10% of the islands overall population. And emigration from the UK looks set to keep rising – as more and more Brits head for the sun in search of a better quality of life.

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